1.   Noise

2.   Toys

3.   Boys

A quiet night from Son 2 aged 14m.  Fireworks this morning though.  The Man brought the boys up their snack - banana and apple pieces.  “I want grapes,” said Son 1 aged 4y 2m. “We haven’t got any grapes,” I said.  Son 1 grizzled a bit.  Son 2 grabbed his tub, peered in, tried throwing it on the floor… grabbed Son 1’s tub, flung the banana and apple on the floor, snatched his own again and succeeded in throwing the contents out… and then hurled his Doidy cup of milk across the chair and mirror.  It was a spectacular piece of tantruming, just because he didn’t have grapes in his tub.  He was dumped back in his cot and left to stew.  Well, boil would be a more accurate description.  Jaysus if he’s like this now what happens when he’s had time to practise?

Getting Son 1 to Nursery on time was a Good Thing.  We left late, the roads were awful, and I decided to try another route which was ok until we ended up in a long stationary queue.  I’m usually pretty patient in traffic, but we’d already been late twice and I really felt like Flinging My Tub. We got there on time though, and I even saw the teacher for the first time in a week.  I like the way Son 1 goes into Nursery now.  Eyes darting around to see what the others are doing, checking out all the different toys out in all the different places… his brain really switches instantly to What-Am-I-Playing-With, rather than I-Want-My-Mum.

Back home after The Office Son 2 reached and shrieked for me as soon as I walked in, and then, once he’d clamped himself to my shoulder started looking round for the next bit of action.  I did some books with him and got him in his bath.  Son 1 went in the shower, Son 2 sat at the plug end playing with the bubbles, the Winnie The Pooh squirters and some plastic jugs.  Son 1 was cleaning toys and polishing the shower screen.  They were both enchantingly engrossed in their own games.  For two minutes, till Son 1 “accidentally” poured soapy water in Son 2’s eyes.  Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.  It was hard settling him again, but we made it.  Six weeks since I stopped feeding him, and I think he’s now happy with milk from a cup and water from a glass.

1. Understanding banana

2. Understanding humpty.

3. Understanding flumes.

! was giving Son 2 aged 11m his breakfast, and getting ready to take him swimming.  He was in the high chair eating £3 a packet plum and banana porridge with strawberries in it.  I was chatting about his post-swim snack box.  “I’ve put in some milk, I’ve made you some sandwiches.  Would you a like a banana as well?”  A fat little starfish hand with outstretched fingers reached round the highchair towards the fruit bowl.  Yes he would like a banana.  Now.  The £3 a packet porridge was abandoned and he stuffed his little face with leftover banana from the fridge.  

In the pool, am.  Saw our costume-making friend, with 2 and a half year old.  Saw our Wednesday friends, back from their three week holiday at her mum’s.  It rained the whole time.  Saw the boys who’se nanny is Wonder Nanny’s pal - our boys play with them on WN days.  Plus parents.  Their nanny is leaving for a live-in city job with fantastic pay.  Son 2 loves swimming.  A big smile-the-size-of-a-grapefruit.  Splashy hands.  Kicking legs.  Eyes as wide as dinner plates.   “Shall we play Humpty Dumpty?”  Hand claps and squeals. 

Took an exhausted Son 2 back, and picked up Son 1 aged 3y and 10m (The Man is having a bit of a rest from swimming.)  Son 1 played pirates.  He clunked into instant role-play, darting around a poolside bit that divides the baby area from the 50cm shallow end.  I was the crocodile, the sea monster, the mermaid, Wendy.   We bobbed about on a surfboard.  And then went on the flume, about 10 times.  I have perfected the art of slow (sitting up, abs gripping, legs straight, ankles hip-width apart with heels dug in) and fast (lie down and zoooooooooooooooom.)  Son 1 coxed.  “Lie down when we get to the big corner.” “Sit up all the way - lie down!” “Can you sit up nooooooooooooow?”  Me: “Noooooooooooooooooooo.” Splash.